Is the 2006 Honda Pilot a bad year?
268 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Pilot years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2006 Honda Pilot are in line with other Pilot years. Air bags stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 Pilot owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 115,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 61 (23%) | 85k–158k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 33 (12%) | 71k–147k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 30 (11%) | 79k–120k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 26 (10%) | 58k–168k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 23 (9%) | 74k–156k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 20 (7%) | 64k–126k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 18 (7%) | 82k–152k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Suspension | 18 (7%) | 61k–180k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Exterior lighting | 14 (5%) | 87k–172k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 13 (5%) | 75k–124k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Seats | 12 (4%) | 80k–151k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 6 (2%) | 88k–160k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Tires | 10 (4%) | 8k–41k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 9 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 115,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 268 complaints: 23 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 17 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My 2006 Honda pilot started to show the P0301 error code and had the check engine light and VTM-4 caution light come on suddenly.
2006 Honda, lx, 2WD pilot was making a slow turn in intersection and sudden acceleration was noted. Felt like cruise control had been turned on but had not been turned on.
My 2006 Honda pilot experienced sudden acceleration this morning while driving at about 25 mph. The engine suddenly revved up and the auto lunged forward.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 115,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2006 Honda Pilot: 10
The rotating portion of the accelerator pedal assembly may bind. If the accelerator pedal binds, the engine may not quickly return to idle after the pedal is no longer pressed, increasing the risk of a crash.
The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode. An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
A pinch bolt exists between the bike arm bracket and the upright assembly of the "Hitch" Style bicycle rack. When moving the bike arm bracket to its down position, this pinch bolt has the potential of causing severe laceration or amputation to the user's fingertips or hand.
On certain passenger vehicles and motorcycles, the owner's manuals contain incorrect contact information for the national highway traffic safety administration's (NHTSA) vehicle safety hotline. The language in the owner's manuals is not in accordance with the current mandatory requirements.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 27
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Honda Pilot. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Never use conventional wheel & tire assemblies on pax vehicles; MIL on after throttle body cleaning or replacement…
MIL comes on with DTC P0300 and one or more of DTCs P0301 thru P0306
Corrosion of the frame rail that supports the rear subframe may occur on some vehicles that are commonly driven in harsh environments
In certain vehicles, the driver s (Front) airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2005 Pilot: 677 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2007 Pilot: 211 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda Pilot year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Pilot years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2006 Honda Pilot a bad year?
268 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Pilot years. At 115,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Honda Pilot?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (61), brakes (33), engine (30), body structure (26), stability control (23).
How many recalls does the 2006 Honda Pilot have?
10 recall campaigns list this model year: Speed control (NHTSA 19E068000), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-501), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-499), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-182) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.